Sports glove

ABSTRACT

In the sports playing by grasping a grip such as baseball and golf, even when a glove is used, feeling of grasping the grip with bare hand can be provided to the player. A player grasps a sports tool so that the pad portions of fingertips of other fingers except a thumb are in contact with a skin of a palm throughout the contact holes formed at the palm side of a base portion of the thumb of a sports glove in a stationary posture before starting a motion. Since the pad portions are in contact with a skin under the contact holes, the player feels as if the player grasps the sports tool with bare hand.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of priority and is a Continuationapplication of the prior International Patent Application No.PCT/JP2015/055700, with an international filing date of Feb. 26, 2015,which designated the United States, and is related to the JapanesePatent Application No. 2014-040037, filed Mar. 3, 2014, the entiredisclosures of all applications are expressly incorporated by referencein their entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sports glove.

2. Description of Related Art

In a structure of a conventional sports glove, the structure has beenconsidered for mainly preventing callus and blister formed by a frictiongenerated between a sports tool and a palm of a hand or a pressureapplied from the sports tool to the palm. Little consideration has beengiven to a feeling between the sports tool and the palm when, forexample, swinging or throwing the sports tool.

The present invention provides a sports glove capable of providing afeeling as if a player grasps the sports tool with bare hands by makinga contact hole(s) at an optimum position of a base portion of a thumb ofthe glove so that folded fingertips or pad portions of the fingertipsare in contact with a skin under the contact hole when other fingersexcept a thumb are folded to grasp the sports tool.

[Patent document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. S50-30874

[Patent document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. S50-30875

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a glove capable of using a sports tool ina feeling similar with bare hands even when the glove is attached.

One aspect of the present invention discloses a sports glove wherein atleast one or a plurality of contact holes are made on a palm side of abase portion of a thumb of the glove, the contact holes have enough areato be in contact with fingertips or pad portions of the fingertips ofother fingers except the thumb, a position of the contact holes isdesigned so that the fingertips or the pad portions of the fingertips ofthe other fingers are in contact with a skin of the palm under thecontact holes when the other fingers except the thumb are folded tograsp a sports tool such as a golf club, a grip of baseball bat, an armguard (kote) of Japanese fencing (kendo) or Japanese archery (kyudo),and a grip of weightlifting, hammer throw or shot put.

In the sports glove, the position of the contact holes is designed basedon a positional relation between the palm side of the base portion ofthe thumb and the other fingers when the sports tool is grasped in astationary posture before starting a motion.

In the sports glove, the contact holes correspond to the other fingersexcept the thumb one to one, the other fingers including an indexfinger, a middle finger, a ring finger and a little finger.

In the sports glove, at least one of tips of the glove into which thefingertips of the other fingers except the thumb are inserted is cutoff.

In the sports glove, a sheet is attached from an inside of the glove atleast at a portion of the contact holes or a whole the glove forpreventing deformation of the contact holes and increasing strength ofthe contact holes.

In the sports glove, an edge of the contact holes is reinforced by asewing for preventing deformation of the contact holes and increasingstrength of the contact holes.

In the sports glove, an eyelet-type reinforcement is adhered to an edgeof the contact holes by using the same material with a portion of thecontact holes or other soft materials.

In the sports glove, an eyelet is provided and the eyelet has an arccorresponding to a curve of the palm when the fingertips or the padportions of the fingertips is in contact with the contact holes formedat an optimum position.

By using the sports glove of the present invention, the fingertips orthe pad portions of the fingertips of the other fingers except the thumbare in contact with the contact holes formed at the palm side of thebase portion of the thumb to grasp the sports tool, and the fingertipsor the pad portions are in contact with the skin under the contactholes. Thus, the sports glove of the present invention can provide afeeling as if a player grasps the sports tool with bare hand.

In addition, since the contact holes are formed based on the positionalrelation between the palm and the fingers when the sports tool isgrasped in a stationary posture before starting a motion, the contactholes can be designed at an optimum position.

Although depending on a kind of the sports, a combination of the contactholes can be freely selected by assuming various patterns of thecombination of a plurality of fingertips of the other fingers except thethumb, i.e., the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger andthe little finger. For example, the index finger and the middle fingerare in contact with the same contact hole, while the ring finger is incontact with the contact hole located below. As another example, theindex finger, the middle finger and the ring finger are in contact withthe same contact hole, while the little finger is in contact with thecontact hole located below.

If the tip of the glove into which the fingertips of the other fingersexcept the thumb are inserted is cut off to expose the fingertip or thepad portion of the fingertip of the hand, the feeling becomes muchcloser to the bare hand when the fingertips are in contact with thecontact hole.

If the sheet, which is made of a thin film, a plastic film, a cloth orother sheets that enable the player feel the contact of the fingertip orthe pad portion of the fingertip, is attached from an inside of theglove at a portion of the contact holes or a whole the glove,deformation of the contact holes can be prevented and strength of thecontact holes against the force can be increased.

If the edge of the contact holes is reinforced by a sewing, deformationof the contact holes can be prevented and strength of the contact holesagainst the force can be increased.

If an eyelet-type reinforcement is adhered to the edge of the contactholes by using the same material with a portion of the contact holes,deformation of the contact holes can be prevented and strength of thecontact holes against the force can be increased.

If the eyelet having an arc corresponding to a curve of the palm isprovided on the edge of the contact holes, the player can grasp thesports tool with fitted feeling, deformation of the contact holes can beprevented, and strength of the contact holes against the force can beincreased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sports glove having one contact hole.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a sports glove having two contact holes.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a sports glove having three contact holes.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a sports glove having contact holes formed ina long elliptical shape elongated in a direction of the fingertip ofother fingers except the thumb.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sports glove of a left hand when agrip of a bat of baseball is grasped and the index finger, the middlefinger and the ring finger are in contact with one contact hole.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sports glove formed by cutting off atip of the fingertips of other fingers except the thumb of the glove,showing a state that the fingertips are in contact with the contacthole.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state that a sheet isattached from inside the glove at a portion of the contact hole.

FIG. 8A is a front view showing a state that the contact hole isreinforced by a sewing.

FIG. 8B is a front view showing a state that the contact hole isreinforced by adhering an eyelet-type reinforcement.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state that the contact hole isreinforced by an eyelet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the embodiment will be explained in detail, the presentinvention is not limited to the embodiment at all. In order to clarifythe explanation, a sports tool is replaced by a grip of a bat ofbaseball (hereafter, referred to merely as a grip of a bat). In astationary posture before starting a motion of bat swing, a feeling ofgrasping the grip of the bat becomes much closer to the bare hand whenusing the sports glove of the present invention because the fingertip orthe pad portion of the fingertip is in contact with a skin of the palmof the base portion of the thumb. Thus, a player can subtly control thegrip of the bat.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sports glove of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

A sports glove 100 has contact holes 7 a, 7 b at a palm 1 side of thebase portion of a thumb 2. The contact holes 7 a, 7 b have enough areato be in contact with fingertips 3 to 6 or pad portions of thefingertips 3 to 6 of other fingers except a thumb 2. The position ofcontact holes 7 a, 7 b is designed so that the fingertips 3 to 6 or thepad portions of the fingertips 3 to 6 of other fingers except the thumb2 are in contact with a skin of a palm through the contact holes 7 a, 7b when the grip of the bat is grasped and the other fingers except thethumb 2 are folded.

In this case, the position of the contact holes is formed so that thefingertips 3 to 6 or the pad portions of the fingertips 3 to 6 of otherfingers except the thumb 2 are in contact with the skin under thecontact holes 7 a, 7 b of the palm side of the base portion of the thumb2 when a player grasps the grip of the bat in a stationary posturebefore starting a motion of bat swing.

An area of the contact hole is larger than an exact area required to bein contact with the fingertips 3 to 6 or the pad portions of thefingertips 3 to 6 in the stationary posture before starting the motionof bat swing. This is because the player firmly grasps the grip of thebat when swinging the bat, and therefore displacement occurs between thecontact hole and the fingertips 3 to 6 or the pad portions of thefingertips 3 to 6. In general, the displacement occurs at the fingertips3 to 6 side. Therefore, the contact holes are formed while beingelongated in a direction of the fingertips 3 to 6 side.

An approximate dimensions of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b is about 35 to40 mm in a longitudinal direction and about 10 to 15 mm in a distancebetween the opposed sides. A shape of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b can bean elliptical shape, a rectangular shape or a combination of them.

If the area of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b is large, load applied to theedge of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b by the swing motion is increased anddurability of the glove becomes inferior. If the edge of the contactholes 7 a, 7 b is reinforced by a sewing, deformation of the contactholes 7 a, 7 b can be prevented, and strength of the contact holes 7 a,7 b can be increased.

If the edge of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b is reinforced by attaching aneyelet-type reinforcement, deformation of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b canbe prevented, and strength of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b can beincreased. The eyelet-type reinforcement can be combined with thesewing.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a sports glove of an embodiment of the presentinvention showing the palm side of the glove wherein contact holes 8 a,9 a, 8 b and 9 b are made.

This configuration is required if the player has a habit of forming awide interval between the middle finger and the ring finger whengrasping the grip of the bat or when making the little finger be incontact with the contact hole 9 a or 9 b when swinging the bat. Each ofthe contact holes is assumed to be used in accordance with a bonyframework of the player and preference of the player.

When only one contact hole is formed as shown in FIG. 1, the contacthole can be enlarged by a swinging force and deformation can occur.Therefore, by forming a joint W between the contact holes 8 a and 9 a orbetween the contact holes 8 b and 9 b, the shape of the contact hole canbe maintained more stably.

Although two contact holes are formed on each of the left and rightgloves in FIG. 2, the number of the contact holes can be changed inaccordance with characteristic of the sports or preference of theplayer. For example, one contact hole can be formed on the left glove,and two three contact holes can be formed on the right glove.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a sports glove having three contact holes oneach of the left and right gloves.

Although three contact holes are made, the number of the contact holescan be four or more in accordance with a kind of the sports orpreference of the player.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a sports glove having contact holes elongatedin a direction of the fingertips 3 to 6.

A dimension 13 of the contact holes is designed to have a marginconsidering displacement between the contact holes and the fingertips 3to 6 or the pad portions of the fingertips 3 to 6 caused when the playerfirmly grasps a grip 14 of the bat in the direction of the fingertips 3to 6 to swing the bat.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a batting form in a stationaryposture before starting a motion of bat swing wherein the player graspsthe bat by the left hand so that the pad portions of fingertips of anindex finger 3, a middle finger 4 and a ring finger 5 are in contactwith the contact hole 7 a.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sports glove formed by cutting off atip of the fingertips 3 to 6 of the left hand fingers of a glove 100.

A dimension of the cut area is designed so that the pad portions of thefingertips 3 to 6 are exposed. However, the fingertips of the indexfinger 3 and the little finger 6 can be remained without being cut inaccordance with a kind of the sports or preference of the player.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a material structure of theglove 100 when a sheet 17 is attached from inside the glove 100.

When the fingertips 3 to 6 and the pad portions of the fingertips 3 to 6are in contact with the contact hole 7 a, feeling of grasping the gripbecomes much closer to the bare hand. Therefore, it is better that theexistence of the sheet 17 is not felt by the player.

The sheet 17 is attached to an outer material 16, which is directly incontact with the grip of the bat, from inside the glove 100. The outermaterial can be made of a material generally used for a batting glove.The sheet 17 can be made of a thin and strong material such as a cloth,a plastic film and a thin film.

FIG. 8A is a front view of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b wherein thecontact holes 7 a, 7 b are reinforced by a sewing 19 to preventdeformation and increase strength. FIG. 8B is a front view of thecontact holes 7 a, 7 b wherein the contact holes 7 a, 7 b are reinforcedby an eyelet-type reinforcement 20 to prevent deformation and increasestrength.

A kind of the sewing 19 can be running stitch, hem stitch, and saddlestitch, for example. The sewing 19 can protect the edge of the contactholes. For the reinforcement of the eyelet type 20, a material same asthe portion of the contact hole can be used. In addition, othermaterials having higher strength can be also used. A material of theeyelet-type reinforcement to be used can be a cloth, a leather and aplastic film, for example.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b wherein theedge of the contact holes 7 a, 7 b is reinforced by an eyelet 21.

When the player grasps the grip 14 of the bat, the grip 14 of the bat 14is brought into close contact with the fingers and the palm. A shape ofthe contact hole formed in the above described state is applied to theshape of the eyelet 21 and the eyelet 21 is attached to the edge of thecontact holes 7 a, 7 b. The eyelet can be made of a metal or a rubber,for example.

The sports glove of the present invention is selected in accordance witha kind and a property of the sports, such as a grip of a bat of baseballand a grip of a club of golf.

The sports glove of the present invention enables the player to grasp agrip with a feeling of bare hand in the sports grasping the grip. Thus,the player can remember subtle feeling of the palm and the fingertips.In addition, callus and blister can be prevented.

Note that, this invention is not limited to the above-mentionedembodiments. Although it is to those skilled in the art, the followingare disclosed as the one embodiment of this invention.

-   -   Mutually substitutable members, configurations, etc. disclosed        in the embodiment can be used with their combination altered        appropriately.    -   Although not disclosed in the embodiment, members,        configurations, etc. that belong to the known technology and can        be substituted with the members, the configurations, etc.        disclosed in the embodiment can be appropriately substituted or        are used by altering their combination.    -   Although not disclosed in the embodiment, members,        configurations, etc. that those skilled in the art can consider        as substitutions of the members, the configurations, etc.        disclosed in the embodiment are substituted with the above        mentioned appropriately or are used by altering its combination.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand detail may be made therein without departing from the sprit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sports glove, wherein at least one or aplurality of contact holes are made on a palm side of a base portion ofa thumb of the sports glove, the contact holes have enough area to be incontact with fingertips or pad portions of the fingertips of otherfingers except the thumb, at least one of tips of the sports glove intowhich the fingertips are inserted is cut off, a skin of the palm exposedfrom the contact holes is in contact with the fingertips or the padportions of the fingertips of the other fingers except the thumb whenthe other fingers except the thumb are folded to grasp a sports tool,and a position of the contact holes is designed so that the fingertipsor the pad portions of the fingertips of the other fingers are incontact with the palm side of the base portion of the thumb when thesports tool is grasped in a stationary posture before starting a motion.2. The sports glove according to claim 1, wherein the contact holescorrespond to the other fingers except the thumb one to one, the otherfingers including an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger and alittle finger.
 3. The sports glove according to claim 1, wherein a sheetis attached from an inside of the sports glove at least at the contactholes.
 4. The sports glove according to claim 1, wherein an edge of thecontact holes is reinforced by a sewing.
 5. The sports glove accordingto claim 1, wherein an edge of the contact holes is reinforced by aneyelet-type reinforcement.
 6. The sports glove according to claim 1,wherein an eyelet is provided, the eyelet having an arc corresponding toa curve of the palm when the fingertips or the pad portions of thefingertips is in contact with the contact holes.
 7. The sports gloveaccording to claim 1, wherein the contact holes are formed on an optimalposition based on a positional relation between the palm and the otherfingers when the sports tool is grasped in the stationary posture beforestarting the motion.